BC's Indigenous Public Post-Secondary Institute

Secwépemc Language Fluency Certificate Program


Department: Indigenous Language Fluency
Program Delivery Location: Merritt & Community
Credential: Certificate
Format: Full-Time

Secwépemc Language Fluency Certificate Program

Purpose


The TRC report calls to action for post-secondary institutions to create university and college degree programs in Aboriginal languages. In reaction to this NVIT, as a member of the Indigenous Language Fluency Consortium, designed this curriculum to meet the community demands to retain language fluency in community members.


The Indigenous Language Fluency Degree framework is designed to meet Indigenous community language standards as well as academic standards to ensure that NVIT graduates are successful and effective fluent language speakers in their respective communities.


The program is unique in that it emphasizes the language fluency, knowledge and skills relevant to all the worldview of Indigenous communities.  Developing Indigenous Language Fluency is at a critical stage with a high need for qualified fluent speakers particularly in the Indigenous communities across the country. 


Programs 


The Secwépemc Language Fluency Certificate & Diploma programs are foundational and innovative programs with a focus on Secwepemc Language content in the language fluency curriculum. Admission is open to all learners within the respective Secwepemc communities, particularly those wishing to enhance their knowledge, understanding and conversational ability of Indigenous languages. The program is designed to be delivered year-long through the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.


Career Opportunities:


Graduates of Indigenous Language Fluency programs will be prepared for employment in many different career areas:












  • First Nation organizations

  • Band and Public Schools




  • Other First Nations’ Organizations

  • Family and group facilities




  • Other Organizations (ie-tourism)



 


The Secwépemc Language Fluency Certificate & Diploma is approved by the local language authorities in their respective communities. Successful completion of the program will allow graduates to work with community members and First Nations Organizations.


Admission Requirements for Certificate



  • Grade 12 or equivalent or mature student status


NVIT is committed to ensuring education is accessible to all people. Students who do not meet program requirements should contact the Department Coordinator or an NVIT Academic Planner regarding upgrading opportunities.


Course and Program Transferability


The Secwépemc Language Fluency Certificate & Diploma are articulated through the BCCAT (BC Council on Admissions and Transfer).


For more information visit: www.bctransferguide.ca

Certificate Completion Plan

An Secwépemc Language Fluency Certificate (SLFC) is awarded upon the successful completion of the equivalent of one year of full-time study with the option of continuing on to the second year diploma. The NLFC requires 33 credits as prescribed below. An overall minimum GPA of 2.33 is required.

  • INLG-180 - Dynamics of Indigenous Language Shift
  • INLG-181 - Issues, Principles and Practices in Language Revitalization
  • SECW-110 - Secwépemc Language: Pronunciation - Learning the Sounds
  • SECW-111 - Secwpemctsín II
  • SECW-112 - Secwépemc Language Introduction to Writing
  • SECW-120 - Secwépemc Social Language in Everyday Social Language
  • SECW-121 - Secwépemc Language Everyday Action and Interaction
  • SECW-122 - Secwépemc Language Vocabulary in Place and Socio-Spatial Context I
  • SECW-130 - Secwépemc Language Entry Tools: Introduction to Full Immersion
  • SECW-131 - Secwépemc Language Special Topics - Immersion
  • SECW-132 - Secwépemc Language Interpersonal Interactions Through Immersion Learning
  • Course Listing for this program

    INLG-180 - Credits: 3.000
    Dynamics of Indigenous Language Shift
    This course will introduces the human dynamics, political, and social factors associated with Indigenous language shift and language loss, including the profound psychological, intellectual and spiritual effect on individuals, families, communities and culture. Language revitalization may be explored as a source of healing and empowerment. More Details on this course
    INLG-181 - Credits: 3.000
    Issues, Principles and Practices in Language Revitalization
    This course will introduce the contemporary issues, principles and practices in the revival, maintenance and revitalization of Indigenous languages in Canada and around the world. Participants identify community assets supporting individual, family and community language revitalization. Students explore factors influencing language maintenance, loss revival and their social and political contexts. More Details on this course
    Prerequisites: INLG-180
    SECW-110 - Credits: 3.000
    Secwépemc Language: Pronunciation - Learning the Sounds
    Secwépemc Language proficiency in adult learners prepares them for learning and hearing Secwépemc Language sounds. The student will actively participate in a Secwépemc introduction to Secwépemc Language. Instruction method develops proper pronunciation skills in the forty-seven separate sounds of Secwépemc Language, develops recognition and differentiation of separate sounds in speech. This method provides the learner with foundational communication skills as a beginner learner. More Details on this course
    SECW-111 - Credits: 3.000
    Secwpemctsín II
    Secwepemctsín II is a beginning level course that will explore the traditional knowledge of the land in the Secwepemc Language. It is a continuation of Secwepemctsín I. Learning activities are designed to teach students how to identify common land and river locations, resource gathering sites, and connections to the spiritual landscape. The course will use communicative style methodologies and focus on oral comprehension and production. Activities will include immersion-like methods, total physical response storytelling, storyboards, and the use of traditional texts. More Details on this course
    Prerequisites: SECW 110 / or permission of instructor.
    SECW-112 - Credits: 3.000
    Secwépemc Language Introduction to Writing
    This course will introduce the Secwépemc Language orthography and develop the ability for reading, writing and in the context of continued pronunciation. Students will apply foundational writing based on previous knowledge and pronunciation skills to improve learning in Secwépemc Language. More Details on this course
    SECW-120 - Credits: 3.000
    Secwépemc Social Language in Everyday Social Language
    This course will introduce students to Secwépemc Language proficiency in adult learners. The student will actively participate in an oral Secwépemc Language class. Instruction method provides new vocabulary words and phrases essential in everyday social use. Greetings, introductions, basic questions, responses and other necessary word concept to function in everyday situations. Instructors are experienced in utilizing associative/cognitive (immersion) second language learning method combined with some aspects of total physical response as an instructional methodology. More Details on this course
    SECW-121 - Credits: 3.000
    Secwépemc Language Everyday Action and Interaction
    This course develops Secwépemc Language proficiency in adult learners. Students will actively participate in class action-based activities. Students will develop skills in interacting in oral Secwépemc Language using basic foundational phrases for interactive contexts. All instruction and activities take place in the Secwépemc Language. Total Physical Response (TPR) method will be used to imbed action contexts. More Details on this course
    SECW-122 - Credits: 3.000
    Secwépemc Language Vocabulary in Place and Socio-Spatial Context I
    This course provides students with foundational immersion learning tools following the three principles of (a) leaving English behind, (b) relating to everything and every action in Secwépemc Language and (c) re-learning the world in Secwépemc Language. Fluent Secwépemc Language speakers engage students in activities focused on increasing the interactive use of Secwépemc Language in selected topics including (a) workplace action and description sentences and phrases, (b) school or place of learning action and description sentences and phrases, (c) gatherings (formal, feast, ceremonies, and meetings). (d) action and description sentences and phrases and (e) elders home visits, action and description sentences and phrases will be given. More Details on this course
    SECW-130 - Credits: 3.000
    Secwépemc Language Entry Tools: Introduction to Full Immersion
    This course is an introductory-level to a full immersion course. It provides students Secwépemc Language immersion-learning tools following the principles of leaving English behind and conveying every object and process in Secwépemc Language. Students will be relearning the world in Secwépemc Language. The course provides immersion learners with essential Secwépemc Language phrases to assist them with words, phrases that allows them to interact and ask for repetition or slowing down or demonstrating. Students will learn the use of basic phrases as well as the process of participating in an immersion setting. More Details on this course
    SECW-131 - Credits: 3.000
    Secwépemc Language Special Topics - Immersion
    This course uses a special topics approach to expose and immerse students in the Secwépemc Language. Students will enhance their basic knowledge and ability to speak the Secwépemc Language within a topical context. Students will gain sufficient knowledge to understand, listen and speak sufficient vocabulary related to each special topic. Special topics may include one or more of the following: medicine protocols, roots, berries, feasts, and hunting/fishing protocols, depending on the time of year the course is conducted. More Details on this course
    SECW-132 - Credits: 3.000
    Secwépemc Language Interpersonal Interactions Through Immersion Learning
    This course is a total immersion course. It utilizes supervised fluent speakers to engage students in an interpersonal foundational conversation in Secwépemc Language. The goal is to assist development of oral use in soci-spatial contexts. To assist development of phrasing fluency using personal and emphatic first, second and third person pronouns in selected real-world settings. More Details on this course
     

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